1400-Year Temple

Lingyue Temple is a 1,390-year-old ancient Chinese temple, located on a platform in front of the main peak of Baitie Mountain, 5 km north of Zhaitang Town, Mentougou District, Beijing. Founded in the Tang Dynasty’s Zhenguan period (627–649 AD), rebuilt in the Liao Dynasty, and undergone four subsequent renovations, Lingyue Temple was listed as the 7th batch of municipal cultural relics protection units in 2003. The temple follows a south-facing layout with a central axis including the Mountain Gate, Heavenly King Hall, and Sakyamuni Buddha Hall, while Bell and Drum Tower ruins stand flanking the southern Mountain Gate. The Heavenly King Hall is a cleverly designed wooden structure with overhanging eaves on both sides, showcasing exquisite ancient craftsmanship. Lingyue Temple is surrounded by the legend "the temple existed before Zhaitang City," and houses two well-preserved stone steles: Record of Rebuilding Lingyue Temple (1293 AD, Yuan Dynasty) and Record of Rebuilding Lingyue Chanlin (1683 AD, Qing Dynasty). As a rare intact ancient temple integrating Tang foundations, Liao reconstructions, and Yuan-Qing renovations, it reflects the continuous inheritance of Chinese timber architecture and the deep connection between religious sites and local history. 灵岳寺是一座有 1390 年历史的中国古寺，坐落于北京市门头沟区斋堂镇北部 5 公里的白铁山主峰前平台上。灵岳寺始建于唐贞观年间（627-649 年），辽代重建，后历经四次重修，2003 年被列为第七批市级文物保护单位。灵岳寺素有 “先有寺后有斋堂城” 的传说，寺院坐南朝北，中轴线上依次分布山门、天王殿和释迦佛殿，南部山门两侧为钟鼓楼遗址。其中天王殿为悬山式建筑，建筑设计极为巧妙。灵岳寺内现存两通重要碑刻：元至元三十年（1293 年）的《重修灵岳寺记》碑与清康熙二十二年（1683 年）的《重修灵岳禅林碑记》碑。作为融合唐、辽、元、清历代遗存的完整古寺，灵岳寺既见证了京西地区的历史变迁，也完整传承了中国古代木构建筑的工艺精髓，是研究宗教文化与地方发展史的珍贵实物。 3D scene captured by XGrids L2 Pro